Eep! Mold?

[goteambarker]

Hi there,

New to kombucha and on my first batch.

I've been super cautious to keep the environment sterile and ensure all ingredients are organic.

First fermentation went fine and kombucha as ideal to taste. However, on second fermentation with flavours, I've had some concerns...

One flavour I've put together is blueberry and vanilla bean (it is has finished carbonation and fermentation through refrigeration), using natural fruits as opposed to any kind of concentrate. As some of the blueberries and vanilla bean have been sitting a little erect out of the kombucha, there has been some worrying brown sediment forming on top of the fruits.

At first glance (and movement of the bottle), it looks like a super small scoby (and acts like it too), however, there is the brown sediment on top of this, and more specifically, on the vanilla bean that is poking through.

Really concerned that this is mold. Any advice?

Kind regards,
Mike.

 

[kyt]

I make vanilla extract and the beans sticking out of solution can be a concern. As you said, it could just be some cellulose on the bean. If it was mold it would be fuzzy and look like mold you'd see on bread.
If it really worries you, just pour it out and fix the process next time.

 

[goteambarker]

As you said, it could just be some cellulose on the bean. If it was mold it would be fuzzy and look like mold you'd see on bread.
If it really worries you, just pour it out and fix the process next time.

Thanks, Kyt. Turns out it was mold. I have discarded it.

So, that being said, as it was the second fermentation, is there any recommendations as to the addition of fruits? Undoubtedly, it was because the fruit was sitting erect out of the kombucha.

Should I be looking at producing extracts/juices for the second ferment instead of whole fruits?

Cheers.

 

[kyt]

Not necessarily, but that is always an option. Some people don't like the pulp left behind, or the ghost fruit, and so juice makes sense.
Out of all the fruit additions I've done, I have not once had a mold problem. Must have something to do with the way I handle it. Usually, I go once a day (or whenever I remember) and turn the bottles over. Not flip them upside down, but rotate 360° around the horizontal axis, so the solids have to float back up through the liquid, to keep the floaty bits wet. Never ever shake them once they've been working though, unless you want glass shards in your hands.